Rotary engine.



No. 860,060. 'PATENTED JULY 10, 1907.

w. L. RIPSOM.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED 10112.27, 1001.

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No.'860,060. PATEN'T'EDJULY16,-1907. w. L. RIPSOM.

ROTARY ENGINBP APPLmATImi FILED MAR. 27, 1907.

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ROTARY ENGINE.

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1 No. 860,060. PATENTBD JULY 16, 1907. W. L. RIPSOM.

ROTARY ENGINE.

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WITNESSES INVENTOR WILLIAM L. RIPSOM, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification-of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1907.

Application filed March 27, 1907- Serial N0; 364,375-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. RIrsoM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Gas or Steam Engines; and he does hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Thisinvention relates to new and useful improvements in combined rotary gas or steam engines, and the object in view is to produce a simple and efficient apparatus of this character whereby there may be a great saving of fuel and affording an engine in which a greater amount of power may be generated than with engines of this type.

The invention comprises various details of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is an elevation of one ,side of the engine. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the opposite side from that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an edge view. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the engine, and Fig. 5 is an edge view of the motor wheel.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the shell or casing which is made up preferably of two complemental sections bolted securely together, and B designates a steam or gas inlet leading to the duct 0 which extends entirely about the cylinder or shell adjacent to its circumference. Leading from the duct are the ports D communicating with the steam or gas chests E.

F designate ducts which lead from the steam chests to the interior of the cylinder in which the wheel G is positioned, said wheel being fixed to a shaft G I extending through suitable hearings in the cylinder and mounted in the boxings G shown clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Mounted horizontally in the slots H formed in the shell or cylinder sections are the slides H, there being four of said slides arranged in pairs at positions diametrically opposite each other. Said motor wheel is provided with pockets I and'I, which pockets are arranged in alternate relation to one another and those which correspond being opposite each other.

Mounted within the steam chests are the cut-off valves K, K K and K each fixed upon a stub shaft K which is journaled in suitable bearings in the casing of the cylinder and steam chests. Fixed to each of said stub shafts is a crank arm K shown clearly in Fig.

1 of the drawings, and to each of said crank arms is fastened a connecting rod K, the inner end of each of said connecting rods being pivotally connected to the rocker plate L which is mounted upon the shaft G. Also pivotally connected to said rocker plate is a reach rod J, the outer end of which is connected to a shaft 1 which in turn is connected to the link J Pivotally connected to a rocking lever P, which in turn is connected to a cross-head or block 1 working in the curved slotted segment, are the two rods J which are pivotally connected to said rocker arm at their outer ends while their inner ends are connected to the eccentric straps J mounted upon the eccentrics I which are fixed to a suitable shaft M mounted in suitable bearings in the frame of the apparatus, and M designates a pinion wheel which is fixed to the shaft M and is in mesh with a pinion wheel M which rotates with the shaft G. By this mechanism, it will be noted thata continuous rotary movement is imparted from the main operating shaft to the eccentrics which actuate the rocker plate which in turn communicates motion to the cut-off valves, and by the construction shown, means is afforded whereby the engine may be reversed by shifting the rocker plate.

Mounted at positions diametrically opposite upon the cylinder are the bracket arms N, each of which supports a cam wheel N, the spindles of which are mounted upon said bracket arms N, and motion is imparted to said cam wheels by gear connection With the pinions 0 upon the shaft O which has a bevel pinion 10 in mesh with a pinion O which in turn is driven by the bevel gear 0 fixed to the shaft G Connected to each slide H is a rod H each of which is connected to and adapted to be driven by a cam N so arranged as to be operated at such a predetermined moment that the slide will be withdrawn from the path of the piston or motor wheel before the end of the pocket reaches said slide.

Suitable exhaust ports S are positioned at any suitable location, preferably in vertical alinement and underneath the passageway through which steam or gas is adapted to enter the cylinder.

P designates a fly wheel which is fixed to the shaft G and P is a suitable pulley whereby belted connection may be had therewith.

In operation, steam or gas, whichever motive agent is utilized in driving the engine, enters through the passageway 13, thence through the duct C and passes into the steam chests. The cut-off valves K and K being open, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the motive agent is allowed to enter the cylinder intermediate the slides H and the adjacent ends of the pockets, said slides having previously been actuated by the cams to which they are connected and driven forward to the positions shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The force of the motive agent bearing intermediate the stationary slide and the pockets, .will cause the motor wheel to rotate. When the motor wheel has made a partial revolution so as to expose the exhaust ports S, the motive agent will exhaust and the valves K and K will be closed and the oppositely disposed valves {2 and K will be opened to allow the motive agent to enter the cylinder through the ports leading from the other steam chests and allow the force thereof to be exerted against the other set of pockets, thus supporting a continuous power alternately upon the two sets of pockets of the motor wheel. By the shifting of the rocking plate to which the eccentrics are connected, the engine may be reversed, the motive agent being caused to exert its force against the pockets in a reverse manner.

By this construction, it will be noted that there will be economy in the use of steam or gas which is utilized as the motive agent, by the raising or lowering of the 'link connected to the rocking arm, and the admission of steam or gas may be cut off and the power maintained through the expansion of said gas or steam. By raising or lowering the link to the full throw of either eccentric, continuous pressure may be maintained, or by setting the link anywhere between either extreme end, the consumption of fuel or gas will be reduced corrcspondingly.

What I claim is 1. A rotary steam or gas engine comprising a cylinder having a shaft mounted in suitable hearings therein, a mo tor wheel fixed to said shaft and provided with alternately arranged pockets, abutment slides mounted at positions diametrically opposite each other and in the paths of said pockets, steam chests, said cylinder having a continuous steam or gas duct communicating with an inlet passageway and provided with branching ducts leading to said steam chests, a rocking cut-off valve mounted in each of said chests, a rocking plate mounted upon the main shaft, rods connecting said rocking plate with said cut-0E valves, a reach rod connected to the rocking plate, a rocker arm connected to said reach rod, eccentrics connected to said rocker arm, means connected with the main shaft for operating said eccentrics, and means for reciprocating said abutment slides, as set forth.

2. A rotary steam or gas engine comprising a cylinder having a shaft mounted in suitable bearings therein, a motor wheel fixed to said shaft and provided with alternately arranged pockets, abutment slides mounted at positions diametrically opposite each other and in the paths of said pockets, steam chests, said cylinder having a continuous steam or gas duct communicating with an inlet passageway and provided with branching ducts leading to said steam chests, a rocking cutofif valve mounted in each of said chests, a rocking plate mounted upon the main shaft, rods connecting said rocking plate with said cutoff valves, a reach rod connected to the rocking plate, a rocker arm connected to said reach rod, eccentrics connected to said rocker arm, means connected with the main shaft for operating said eccentrics, cams mounted upon the cylinder at positions diametrically opposite, connections between said cams and abutment slides, and gear mechanism for actuating said cams, as set forth.

3. A rotary steam or gas engine comprising a cylinder having a shaft mounted in suitable bearings therein, a motor wheel fixed to said shaft and provided with alternately arranged pockets, abutment slides mounted at positions diametrically opposite each other and in the paths of said pockets, 'steam chests, said cylinder having a continuous steam or gas duct communicating with an inlet passageway and provided with branching ducts leading to said steam chests, a rocking cut-01f valve mounted in each of said chests, a rocking plate mounted upon the main shaft, rods connecting said rocking plate with said cut-0E valves, a bracket member projecting from the casing of the cylinder, a rocker arm mounted in a slot in said bracket member, a reach rod pivotally connecting said rocker arm with said rocking plate upon the main shaft, a gear wheel fixed to the main shaft, a pinion wheel in mesh with said gear wheel, a shaft upon which said pinion wheel is mounted, eccentrics fixed to said counter-shaft, eccentric straps upon the eccentrics, rods connecting said straps with said rocker arms, cams mounted in suitable bearings upon the frame of the cylinder, means for actuating said cams, and connections between the latter and said abutment slides, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM L. RIPSOM.

Witnesses:

HORACE D. COLBITRN, M. T. Brennow. 

